Destabilized and catalyzed borohydride for reversible hydrogen storage

ABSTRACT

A process of forming a hydrogen storage material, including the steps of: providing a first material of the formula M(BH 4 ) x , where M is an alkali metal or an alkali earth metal, providing a second material selected from M(AlH 4 ) x , a mixture of M(AlH 4 ) x  and MCl x , a mixture of MCl x  and Al, a mixture of MCl x and AlH 3 , a mixture of MH x  and Al, Al, and AlH 3 . The first and second materials are combined at an elevated temperature and at an elevated hydrogen pressure for a time period forming a third material having a lower hydrogen release temperature than the first material and a higher hydrogen gravimetric density than the second material.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 12/035,710filed on Feb. 22, 2008 and a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No.11/130,750 filed on May 17, 2005, and which claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Application No. 60/605,177, filed on Aug. 27, 2004, thespecifications of which are incorporated herein by reference.

STATEMENT AS TO RIGHTS TO INVENTIONS MADE UNDER FEDERALLY SPONSOREDRESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

This invention was made with Government support under Contract No.DE-AC0996-SR18500 awarded by the United States Department of Energy. TheGovernment has certain rights in the invention.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to hydrogen storage materials, and with moreparticularity, to hydrogen storage materials having improvedthermodynamic properties.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Current technologies utilized for gaseous hydrogen storage are limitedby the low-volume storage gas density even at very high pressures, suchas pressures in the range of 5,000 to 10,000 psi. The energy density byvolume of the gaseous hydrogen is less than that of a gasoline energydensity. Use of hydrogen as an alternate fuel is limited due to thislower energy density. Cryogenic storage of hydrogen at temperatures ofaround 20 K may improve the volumetric energy density compared togaseous storage, but is still less than that for a given amount ofenergy when compared to gasoline. Additionally, production of liquidhydrogen is energy intensive and requires special considerations due tothe low temperature storage to avoid hydrogen boil off and otherlimitations of liquefied hydrogen.

Chemical storage of hydrogen in a solid, such as borohydride, allows forhydrogen release when heated or mixed with water. However, formation ofsolid byproducts or release of hydrogen at very high temperatures,usually exceeding the melting point of the borohydride, limit the use ofborohydrides. Additionally, borohydrides are not typically able to berehydrided after hydrogen release.

There is therefore a need in the art for an improved hydrogen storagematerial that releases hydrogen at lower temperatures and is able to berehydrided after release of the hydrogen.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, there is disclosed a process of forming a hydrogenstorage material, including the steps of: providing a first material ofthe formula M(BH₄)_(x), where M is an alkali metal or an alkali earthmetal, providing a second material selected from M(AlH₄)_(x), a mixtureof M(AlH₄)_(x) and MCl_(x), a mixture of MCl_(x) and Al, a mixture ofMCl_(x) and AlH₃, a mixture of MH_(x) and Al or AlH₃, Al, and AlH₃. Thefirst and second materials are combined at an elevated temperature andat an elevated hydrogen pressure for a time period forming a thirdmaterial having a lower hydrogen release temperature than the firstmaterial and a higher hydrogen gravimetric density than the secondmaterial.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A fully enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the bestmode thereof to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth moreparticularly in the remainder of the specification, including referenceto the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a graph showing the dehydriding characteristics of theindicated catalyzed borohydrides and accompanying control LiBH₄.

FIG. 2 is a graph showing the rehydriding capability of the catalyzedborohydrides at 600° C. and 100 bar.

FIG. 3 is a graph setting forth the first and second cycle hydrogenrelease characteristics of LiBH₄ 75%-TiO₂ 25% at the indicatedtemperatures.

FIG. 4 is a graph setting fort desorption data for LiBH₄ 75%-TiO₂ 25% atrespective temperatures of 400° C., 300° C., and 200° C.

FIG. 5 is an x-ray diffraction spectra setting forth the unique crystalstructure of LiBH₄ 75%-TiO₂ 25% in comparison to a sample of LiBH₄.

FIG. 6 is a graph comparing dehydrogenation of the destabilized andcommercial LiBH₄ materials.

FIG. 7 is a Raman spectra comparison between the destabilized andcommercial LiBH₄ materials.

FIG. 8 is a graph setting forth the first, second, and third cyclehydrogen release characteristics of a partially substituted LiBH₄ inwhich the substituted material is LiBH₄ plus 0.2 molar Mg.

FIG. 9 is a graph comparing dehydrogenation of a destabilized LiBH₄ witha commercial LiBH₄ material.

FIG. 10 is a graph setting forth the desorption data for a partiallysubstituted LiBH₄ material.

FIG. 11 is a graph showing the rehydriding capability of the partiallysubstituted borohydride material at 600° C. and 70 bars of pressure.

FIG. 12 is a graph setting forth desorption data for a partiallysubstituted LiBH₄ with the indicated catalyst.

FIG. 13 is a graph setting forth rehydriding capabilities of thepartially substituted borohydride and indicated catalyst.

FIG. 14 is a graph setting forth desorption data for a partiallysubstituted LiBH₄ with 0.2 molar aluminum.

FIG. 15 is a graph showing the rehydriding capability of the partiallysubstituted LiBH₄ referred to in FIG. 14 at 600° C. and 100 bars ofhydrogen pressure.

FIG. 16 is a graph setting forth desorption data for LiBH₄ plus 0.5LiAlH₄.

FIG. 17 is a graph setting forth rehydriding capability of a LiBH₄ aspartially substituted with 0.5 LiAlH₄.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In one aspect of the invention, a hydrogen storage material may beformed from a first material, such as a metal containing borohydride,where the metal may be an alkali metal or an alkali earth metal. Thefirst material may have the formula: M(BH₄)_(x) where M is an alkalimetal or an alkaline earth metal and 1≦x≦2.

The first material may be combined with a second material, such as ametal alanate of the formula: M(AlH₄)_(x) where 1≦x≦2, a mixture of themetal alanate and a metal chloride, a mixture of a metal chloride andaluminum, a mixture of a metal chloride and an alane (AlH₃), a mixtureof a metal hydride of the formula: MH_(x) where 1≦x≦2 and aluminum oralane, aluminum, and an alane.

The first and second materials may be combined at an elevatedtemperature and at an elevated hydrogen pressure for a time period toform a material having a lower hydrogen release temperature than thefirst material and a higher hydrogen gravimetric density than the secondmaterial.

Various metal borohydrides may be utilized as the first material,including lithium borohydride, sodium borohydride, potassiumborohydride, or combinations of the above materials. Additionally,various alkali earth metals may be included in the metal borohydride andmay be selected from magnesium, calcium, strontium, barium, aluminum,and mixtures of the above.

Various metal chlorides may be used in the second material as describedabove. Such metal chlorides may include including magnesium chloride,calcium chloride, strontium chloride, barium chloride, zirconiumchloride, titanium chloride and combinations thereof. It should berealized that while chlorides are outlined for use in certainembodiments various metal halides including bromides and iodides mayalso be used.

Various metal hydrides may be utilized in the second material asdescribed above. Such metal hydrides may include magnesium hydride,calcium hydride, titanium hydride, and zirconium hydride, andcombinations thereof.

As stated above, various alanates may be used where the metal isselected from an alkali metal or an alkali earth metal and may includelithium alanate having the formula LiAlH₄, sodium alanate having theformula NaAlH₄, and magnesium alanate having the formula Mg(AlH₄)₂.

In one aspect, the process of forming the hydrogen storage material mayinclude the step of ball milling the first and second materials prior tothe step of combining the first and second materials. In the ballmilling process, the first and second materials may be introduced into aball mill and milled to a particle size ranging from about 50 to 100nanometers.

In one embodiment, a first material or metal borohydride, such aslithium borohydride and a second material, an alanate, may be combinedusing the ball mixing or milling procedure. Following the ball millingprocedure, the mixed material may be subjected to a high temperaturetreatment at a temperature of up to 300° C. under hydrogen pressures ofup to 5,500 psi for a period of time up to 24 hours. The third materialformed from the process may have a lower hydrogen desorption temperatureand faster desorption kinetics compared to the initial metal borohydridematerials. Additionally, the third material of the process may bereversibly hydrogenated after release of an initial hydrogencomposition. The third material formed by the process may contain apartially substituted borohydride lithium metal cation with the alanatemetal cation, or partially substituted borohydride boron with aluminum,or a partially substituted cation and boron in the borohydride.

In another embodiment, the first material may be a metal borohydride,such as lithium borohydride and the second material may include analanate and a metal halide such as titanium chloride that may be mixedusing the ball mixing procedure. Following the mixing, the first andsecond materials may be combined at an elevated high temperature of upto 300° C. under hydrogen pressures of up to 5,500 psi for a period oftime up to 24 hours. The third material formed by the high temperaturetreatment may have a lower hydrogen desorption temperature and fasterdesorption kinetics compared to the initial borohydride materials. Thethird material formed may be reversibly hydrogenated when an initialhydrogen is removed from the composition. The third material may containa partially substituted borohydride lithium metal cation with thealanate metal cation, or partially substituted borohydride boron withaluminum, or a partially substituted cation and boron in theborohydride.

In another embodiment, the first material may be a metal borohydride,such as lithium borohydride, and the second material may be a metalhalide, such as zirconium chloride or titanium chloride, magnesiumchloride or calcium chloride, and aluminum or an alane may be mixedusing the ball mixing procedure. The first material and second materialmay be combined at an elevated temperature of up to 300° C. underhydrogen pressures of up to 5,500 psi for a period of time of up to 24hours. The third material formed by the high temperature treatment mayhave a lower hydrogen desorption temperature and faster desorptionkinetics compared to the initial borohydride materials. Additionally,the third material of the process may be reversibly hydrogenated afterrelease of an initial hydrogen composition. The third material mayinclude a partially substituted borohydride lithium metal cation withthe halide cation, and/or a partially substituted borohydride boron withaluminum, or a partially substituted cation and boron in theborohydride.

In another embodiment, the first material may be a metal borohydride,such as lithium borohydride, and the second material may be a hydride,such as an alkali earth based hydride, such as magnesium hydride,calcium hydride, or a transition metal hydride, such as zirconiumhydride, titanium hydride, and aluminum or alane (AlH₃), may be mixedusing the ball mixing and milling procedure. The first and secondmaterials may be combined in a high temperature treatment attemperatures of up to 300° C. under hydrogen pressures of up to 5,500psi for a period of time of up to 24 hours. As with the previouslydescribed embodiments, the third material of the process may have lowerhydrogen desorption temperatures and faster desorption kinetics comparedto the first material, and may be reversibly hydrogenated. The thirdmaterial may be a partially substituted borohydride cation and/or apartially substituted borohydride boron with aluminum, or both apartially substituted cation and anion in the borohydride.

In another embodiment, the first material may be a metal borohydride,such as lithium borohydride, and the second material may be an alane andmay be mixed using the ball mixing procedure. The first and secondmaterials may be combined in a high temperature treatment at atemperature of up to 300° C. under hydrogen pressures of up to 5,500 psifor a period of up to 24 hours. The third material of the process mayhave lower hydrogen desorption temperatures and faster desorptionkinetics compared to the first material. Additionally, the thirdmaterial may be reversibly hydrogenated. The third material may includea partially substituted borohydride cation with aluminum, and/or apartially substituted borohydride boron with aluminum.

In another embodiment, the first material may be a metal borohydride,such as lithium borohydride, and the second material may be aluminum andmay be combined using the ball mixing procedure. The ball mixingprocedure may be followed by a high temperature treatment attemperatures up to 300° C. under hydrogen pressures of up to 5,500 psifor a period of time of up to 24 hours. The third material of theprocess may have lower hydrogen desorption temperatures and fasterdesorption kinetics compared to the first material. The third materialmay also be reversibly hydrogenated. The third material may include apartially substituted borohydride cation with aluminum, and/or apartially substituted borohydride boron with aluminum.

Following the ball milling process, mixture samples ranging fromapproximately 0.250 grams to approximately 0.500 grams were evaluated ina Sieverts volumetric apparatus using a Temperature ProgrammedDesorption (TPD) from ambient temperature to 600° C. with a heating rateof 5° C./min. The desorption conditions included a backpressure ofP₀=5.4 mbar. The results of the hydrogen desorption are set forth inFIG. 1 as samples 1-5 corresponding to Table 1 along with theappropriate control of commercially available LiBH₄ (100%) (Sample 6).

Following the hydrogen desorption, the desorbing material was rehydridedat 600° C. and 100 bar of hydrogen for 45 minutes. As indicated in FIG.2, the percent of hydrogen absorbed for the indicated materials isreflected on the Y axis.

As seen in FIG. 3, the sample of LiBH₄ 75%-TiO₂ 25% exhibits reversiblehydrogen cycling characteristics as indicated by the capacity in weightpercent of the material in a first dehydriding and a second dehydridingcycle.

As indicated by the data set forth in the examples, the third materialsexhibit a hydrogen release initiation temperature which is reduced from400° C. to 200° C. Additionally, the third materials have shown areversible capacity of about 6 wt % to about 9 wt % hydrogen.

As set forth below, it has been demonstrated that various metals, metalchlorides, metal hydrides, and other complex hydrides may be used as thesecond materials in the process to substitute a percentage of either theLi atoms or B atoms in LiBH₄ resulting in lower dehydratingtemperatures. It is also demonstrated that the partial destabilizationmay bring about improvements in dehydriding and rehydriding kinetics.The process may include various steps and may include:

Step 1. A mixture of commercial LiBH₄ is combined with metals such as MgCa, Sr, Ba, and Al; metal chlorides such as MgCl₂, CaCl₂, SrCl₂, BaCl₃;metal hydrides such as MgH₂, CaH₂, AlH₃; or other complex hydrides suchas LiAlH₄, NaAlH₄, and Mg(AlH₄)₂; which are collectively ball milled toachieve a reduced particle size and bring about a homogeneous mixing ofthe materials.

Step 2. Following the initial ball milling and mixing, the resultingmixture is sintered at a temperature up to 300° C. at a given hydrogenatmosphere (100 bar) such that the hydrogen pressure is greater than thedecomposition pressure of LiBH₄ at the reaction temperature.

Step 3. The resulting sintered block of partially substituted materialis crushed and ball milled so as to achieve a final average particlesize of between about 20 to about 100 nanometers or less. Asdemonstrated by the data discussed below, during the final ball millingstep, catalysts such as TiCl₃ and TiO₂ may be added and which providefor additional improvements in the kinetics and properties of hydrogenabsorption and release.

EXAMPLE 1

Using the protocol set forth above, LiBH₄ was mixed with 0.2 molarmagnesium and used to obtain the partial substitution. As seen inreference to FIGS. 6 through 8, the destabilized material LiBH₄+0.2Mgreleases hydrogen at 60° C. comparing with the commercial pure LiBH₄that releases hydrogen at 325° C. At room temperature, two Raman activeinternal LiBH₄ vibrations v₄ and v′₄ occur at 1253 and 1287 cm⁻¹respectively, and two overtones 2v₄ and 2v₄′ at 2240 and 2274 cm⁻¹,respectively as spectrum 2 shows in FIG. 7. However, the V₄ v′₄, and 2v₄stretching disappears from the spectrum after the addition of thedestabilized LiBH₄+0.2 Mg. The 2v₄′ stretching is weakened and shiftedto 2300 cm¹ as the spectrum 1 shows and is indicative that the B—Hbinding strength is reduced by partial LI⁺¹ substitution. The weakenedbond results in a lower dehydriding temperature. As further seen inreference to FIG. 8, the partially substituted LiBH₄ material is able toundergo multiple cycles of rehydrogenation.

EXAMPLE 2

LiBH₄ was combined with 0.3 MgCl₂ plus 0.2 molar TiCl₃ and is subjectedto the process described above. As seen from data set forth in FIG. 9,the partially substituted product has improved hydrogen desorptionrelease properties in terms of temperature and percent of hydrogenreleased at temperatures below 500° C. when compared to a commercialLiBH₄.

As set forth in FIGS. 10 and 11, data is set forth showing the repeateddesorption and rehydrogenation capabilities respectively of thepartially substituted LiBH₄.

EXAMPLE 3

LiBH₄ was mixed with 0.5 MgH₂ plus 0.007 TiCl₃ and processed accordingto the steps described above. Set forth in FIG. 12 is the hydrogendesorption data of the resulting product at the indicated temperatures.

In FIG. 13, rehydrogenation data of the partially substituted LiBH₄ isset forth.

EXAMPLE 4

LiBH₄ at 80 wt % was combined with 0.2 molar Al and treated with theprotocol described above. As set forth in FIGS. 14 and 15, the data onhydrogen desorption and rehydrogenation respectively is provided.

EXAMPLE 5

LiBH₄ was combined with 0.5 LiAlH₄ and subjected to the protocoldescribed above. As seen in reference to FIGS. 16 and 17, the respectivehydrogen desorption and rehydrogenation properties of the partiallysubstituted LiBH₄ are provided.

As seen from the above examples, it is possible to use destabilizationagents to partially substitute a percentage of either Li atoms or Batoms in LiBH₄ (or both atoms) and thereby achieve a lower dehydridingtemperature than is otherwise possible using non-substituted LiBH₄. Inaddition, as noted by the data set forth in the Figures, favorabledehydriding and rehydriding kinetics can be obtained using the partialsubstitution protocol along with the optional addition of catalysts suchas TiCl₃ or TiO₂.

Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been describedusing specific terms, devices, and methods, such description is forillustrative purposes only. The words used are words of descriptionrather than of limitation. It is to be understood that changes andvariations may be made by those of ordinary skill in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit or the scope of the present invention which isset forth in the following claims. In addition, it should be understoodthat aspects of the various embodiments may be interchanged, both inwhole, or in part. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appendedclaims should not be limited to the description of the preferredversions contained therein.

1. A process of forming a hydrogen storage material comprising the stepsof: providing a first material of the formula: M(BH₄)_(x) where M is analkali metal or an alkaline earth metal and 1≦x≦2; providing a secondmaterial selected from: M(AlH₄)_(x) where 1≦x≦2, a mixture ofM(AlH₄)_(x) 1≦x≦2 and MCl_(x) where 1≦x≦4, a mixture of MCl_(x) where1≦x≦4 and Al, a mixture of MCl_(x) where 1≦x≦4 and AlH₃, a mixture ofMH_(x) where 1≦x≦2 and Al or AlH₃, Al, and AlH₃; combining the first andsecond materials at an elevated temperature and at an elevated hydrogenpressure for a time period forming a third material having a lowerhydrogen release temperature than the first material.
 2. The process ofclaim 1 wherein the third material has a higher hydrogen gravimetricdensity than the second material.
 3. The process of claim 1 includingthe step of ball milling the first and second materials prior to thestep combining the first and second materials.
 4. The process of claim 3wherein the first and second materials are milled to a particle size offrom about 50 to 100 nanometers.
 5. The process of claim 1 wherein thethird material reversibly stores hydrogen.
 6. The process of claim 1wherein when the third material is rehydrided, the third materialthereafter reversibly releases at least about 6 wt % hydrogen.
 7. Theprocess of claim 1 wherein the first material is selected from the groupconsisting of: lithium borohydride, sodium borohydride, potassiumborohydride, or combinations thereof.
 8. The process of claim 1 whereinthe alkaline earth metal is selected from the group consisting of:magnesium, calcium, strontium, barium, aluminum, and mixtures thereof.9. The process of claim 1 wherein MCl_(x) is selected from the groupconsisting of MgCl₂, CaCl₂, SrCl₂, BaCl₃ , ZrCl₄ , TiCl₃ andcombinations thereof.
 10. The process of claim 1 wherein MH_(x) isselected from the group consisting of MgH₂, CaH₂, TiH₂, ZrH₂ andcombinations thereof.
 11. The process of claim 1 wherein M(AlH₄)_(x) isselected from the group consisting of LiAlH₄, NaAlH₄, and Mg(AlH₄)₂. 12.A process of forming a hydrogen storage material comprising the stepsof: providing a first material of the formula: M(BH₄)_(x) where M is analkali metal or an alkaline earth metal and 1≦x≦2; providing a secondmaterial selected from: M(AlH₄)_(x) where 1≦x≦2, a mixture ofM(AlH₄)_(x) 1≦x≦2 and MCl_(x) where 1≦x≦4, a mixture of MCl_(x) where1≦x≦4 and Al, a mixture of MCl_(x) where 1≦x≦4 and AlH₃, a mixture ofMH_(x) where 1≦x≦2 and Al or AlH₃, Al, and AlH₃; combining the first andsecond materials at an elevated temperature and at an elevated hydrogenpressure for a time period forming a third material wherein the thirdmaterial reversibly stores hydrogen.
 13. A process of forming a hydrogenstorage material comprising the steps of: providing a first material ofthe formula: M(BH₄)_(x) where M is an alkali metal or an alkaline earthmetal and 1≦x≦2; providing a second material selected from: M(AlH₄)_(x)where 1≦x≦2, a mixture of M(AlH₄)_(x) 1≦x≦2 and MCl_(x) where 1≦x≦4, amixture of MCl_(x) where 1≦x≦4 and Al, a mixture of MCl_(x) where 1≦x≦4and AlH₃, a mixture of MH_(x) where 1≦x≦2 and Al or AlH₃, Al, and AlH₃;combining the first and second materials at an elevated temperature andat an elevated hydrogen pressure for a time period forming a thirdmaterial having a lower hydrogen release temperature than the firstmaterial and a higher hydrogen gravimetric density than the secondmaterial.